Ranking The 25 Greatest Fantasy Players of the Last Decade

The 25 Greatest Fantasy Players of the Last Decade

Getty Images

Ranking the greatest players from any decade is difficult enough, but trying to rank them in fantasy football terms is even tougher. These past 10 years in fantasy football have seen some of the greatest players in NFL history put up record-breaking numbers and eye-popping performances. But who are the 25 greatest fantasy football players from the last decade. Continue on to find out.

An undrafted free agent in 2004, Wes Welker became a consistent fantasy player in 2007 and has not looked back since. Since 2004, Welker has 841 receptions for 9,358 yards and 48 touchdowns. His best season came in 2011 after recording 122 receptions for 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns.

24. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Getty Images

24. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Getty Images

Jason Witten doesn't get mentioned among the best tight ends of all-time, but he has been one of the most consistent performers at the position since he entered the league in 2003. Since 2004, the former Tennessee Volunteer has 844 receptions for 9,452 yards and 68 touchdowns. His best season came in 2007 as he recorded 96 receptions for 1,145 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

23. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks

Getty Images

23. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks

Getty Images

Marshawn Lynch is not mentioned among the best running backs of the past decade, but he has put together a solid resume since entering the league in 2007. Since his rookie season, Lynch has 7,389 rushing yards, 1,532 receiving yards and 63 total touchdowns. His best season came in 2012 as he recorded 1,590 rushing yards, 316 receiving yards and 13 total touchdowns.

22. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

Getty Images

22. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

Getty Images

One of the most underrated players since his rookie season in 2008, Chicago's Matt Forte has been one of the most consistent players in fantasy football. In his six-year career, Forte has 6,666 rushing yards, 2,919 receiving yards, and 47 total touchdowns. His best season came in 2013 as he recorded 1,339 rushing yards, 594 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.

21. Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Getty Images

21. Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Getty Images

Stuck on losing teams for the early part of his career, San Francisco's Frank Gore is finally being recognized as a great running back. Since his rookie season in 2005, Gore has 9,967 rushing yards, 2,772 receiving yards and 70 total touchdowns. His best season came in 2006 as he recorded 1,695 rushing yards, 485 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

20. Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers

Getty Images

20. Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers

Getty Images

Steve Smith has been one of the smallest receivers in the NFL, but he has produced big-time in fantasy football. Since 2004, Smith has 684 receptions for 10,061 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns. His best season came in 2005 as he recorded 103 receptions for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns.

19. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Getty Images

19. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Getty Images

After splitting time with Fred Taylor in his first few seasons in Jacksonville, Maurice Jones-Drew has been one of the best fantasy running backs. Since entering the NFL in 2006, jones-Drew has 8,071 rushing yards, 2,873 receiving yards and 79 total touchdowns. His finest season came in 2011 as he recorded 1,606 rushing yards, 374 receiving yards, and 11 total touchdowns.

Brandon Marshall has not made a postseason appearance in his eight-year career, but that has not stopped him from being one of the best fantasy wide receivers since 2006. Playing for three different teams, Marshall has 712 receptions for 9,050 yards and 57 touchdowns. Marshall's best season came in 2012 with Chicago as he recorded 118 receptions for 1,508 yards and 11 touchdowns.

17. Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers

Getty Images

17. Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers

Getty Images

An undrafted free agent in 2003, Antonio Gates went from being a power forward on Kent State's basketball team to one of the best tight ends in NFL history. Since 2004, Gates has 692 receptions for 8,804 yards and 85 touchdowns. His best season came in 2005 as he recorded 89 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns.

16. Chris johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans

Getty Images

16. Chris johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans

Getty Images

Since arriving in the league in 2008, Chris Johnson has been one of the NFL's fastest players and one of the best fantasy running backs. In his six-year career, Johnson has 7,965 rushing yards, 2,003 receiving yards, and 58 total touchdowns. Johnson's best season came in 2009 as he recorded 2,006 rushing yards, 503 receiving yards, and 16 total touchdowns.

A player that everyone just loves to hate, Terrell Owens was a nuisance to most, but he consistently produced throughout his career. Playing for four different teams from 2004-2010, Owens had 486 receptions for 7,362 yards and 72 touchdowns. His best season came in 2007 with the Cowboys as he recorded 81 receptions for 1,355 yards and 15 touchdowns.

14. Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons

Getty Images

14. Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons

Getty Images

Drafted to be the replacement for Marshall Faulk in St. Louis, Steven Jackson put up stats that were comparable to Faulk's. Since his rookie season in 2004, Jackson has 10,678 yards rushing yards, 3,515 receiving yards, and 71 total touchdowns. His best season came in 2006 as he had 1,528 rushing yards, 806 receiving yards, and 16 total touchdowns.

13. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons

Getty Images

13. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons

Getty Images

Perhaps the greatest tight end in NFL history, Tony Gonzalez established himself as one of the best players ever with his performance in the past decade. From 2004 to his final NFL season in 2013, Gonzalez had 857 receptions for 9,480 yards and 64 touchdowns. His best season came in 2004 with the Chiefs as he recorded 102 receptions for 1,258 yards and seven touchdowns.

The last two years of Randy Moss' career were largely forgettable, but he was still one of the top fantasy receivers in the past decade. From 2004 until 2012, Moss had 457 receptions for 6,917 yards and 79 touchdowns. His best season came in 2007 as he recorded 98 receptions for 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns.

11. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

Getty Images

11. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

Getty Images

In the NFL today, Calvin Johnson is the undisputed No. 1 fantasy receiver today and is well on his way to challenging most of the significant receiving records. Johnson, aka "Megatron", has 572 receptions for 9,328 receiving yards and 66 touchdowns in just seven seasons. Johnson's best season came in 2012 as he broke Jerry Rice's single-season receiving record with 1,964 yards on 122 receptions.

10. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Getty Images

10. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Getty Images

Overshadowed by Marvin Harrison for most of his career, Reggie Wayne has put up stats that are comparable to his future Hall of Fame teammate. Since 2004, Wayne has 856 receptions for 11,667 receiving yards and 69 touchdowns. His best season came in 2007 as he recorded 104 receptions for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns.

9. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans

Getty Images

9. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans

Getty Images

The greatest player in Houston Texans' history, Andre Johnson has established himself as one of the top three fantasy wide receivers in the past decade. From 2004 until now, Johnson has 861 receptions for 11,685 yards and 57 touchdowns. His best season came in 2008 as he recorded 115 receptions for 1,575 yards and eight touchdowns.

8. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Getty Images

8. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Getty Images

Despite being surrounded by awful quarterbacks the past few seasons, Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald still ranks among the top fantasy wide receivers today. Since his rookie season in 2004, Fitzgerald has 846 receptions for 11,367 yards and 87 touchdowns. His best season came in 2008 as he recorded 96 receptions for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Love him or hate him, Brett Favre was a great quarterback in fantasy as well as reality. Playing for three different teams, Favre threw for 26,192 yards and 162 touchdowns. His best fantasy season during this stretch came in 2009 in his first season with the Vikings. At 40, Favre threw for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns.

6. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Getty Images

6. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Getty Images

Brett Favre's heir apparent in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers has proven to be an excellent replacement for the future Hall of Famer. Since his rookie season in 2005, Rodgers has thrown for 24,197 yards and 188 touchdowns. Rodgers has also been a good dual-threat quarterback as he ran for 1,562 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. His best season came in 2011 as he threw for 4,643 yards and 45 touchdowns.

5. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Getty Images

5. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Getty Images

A game manager in the early stages of his career, Tom Brady has turned into a fantasy superstar since 2004. The former Michigan quarterback has thrown for 38,916 yards and 290 touchdowns with mostly an average supporting cast around him. His best season came in 2007 as he threw for 4,806 yards and 50 touchdowns.

4. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Getty Images

4. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Getty Images

Since his rookie season in 2007, Adrian Peterson has been one of the top overall fantasy players and a consensus No. 1 pick in most years. In the past seven seasons, Peterson has 10,115 rushing yards, 1,697 receiving yards, and 91 total touchdowns. Peterson's best season came in 2012 as he recorded 2,097 rushing yards, 217 receiving yards, and 13 total touchdowns.

3. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Getty Images

3. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Getty Images

After Drew Brees suffered a significant injury in 2005 with the San Diego Chargers, most experts thought his career was over. Instead, Brees has become one of the best quarterback to ever play the game and the stats prove it. Since 2004, Brees has thrown for 45,468 yards and 334 touchdowns. His best season came in 2011 after he threw for 5,476 yards and 46 touchdowns.

2. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets

Getty Images

2. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets

Getty Images

For most of his career, LaDainian Tomlinson was the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts, and was the best overall fantasy running back. From 2004-2011, Tomlinson had 9,120 rushing yards, 3,191 receiving yards, and 126 total touchdowns, six coming as a passer. Tomlinson had his best season in 2006 as he recorded 1,815 rushing yards, 508 receiving yards, and 31 total touchdowns.

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos

Getty Images

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos

Getty Images

Peyton Manning has been the first quarterback drafted in most fantasy leagues since 2004 and is one of the few quarterbacks who can carry a fantasy team to victory by himself. Since 2004, Manning has thrown for 40,079 yards and 324 touchdowns. His best season came in 2013 with Denver as he threw for 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns.